Zu Soul Superfly


I just ordered a pair of the new Zu speakers on a whim. I was going to wait for information, but the fact that they threw in the free superfly upgrades to the first 30 people got me.

From a similar thread it sounds like some of you guys have heard the speaker despite information only being released today. I'm wondering what you can share about it?

Also, I am really hoping it works with a Firstwatt F1 amplifier. Can anyone comment as to that? I know the Druid's and Essences worked OK.
gopher
>>You say one thing, then you say opposite thing. This zig and zag you do, it is like talking to serpent.<<

I think you must simply not be reading carefully what I write. Maybe your busy or just don't want to; I can't say. But in nearly every rejoinder you've misstated a position I clearly articulated in a prior post. My POV in this thread has been consistent. But I've separated things that I might worry about (which is not as much as you're concerned with) from the realities of others who see no reason to be so precise about their sound. Like this comment/question of yours:

"I am curious as to why you are interested in having sound good in all positions, ie. have bass be smooth while walking around."

An audiophile might grok it, but it's a ridiculous question to a music lover - more of whom Zu would like to sell to.

>>My suspicion is that wide dispersion FRD will improve sound at all positions but make sound worse in listening position.<<

I'm sure you'll find this not to be true if you decide to spring for Soul Superfly. I noted that the new FRD has "widER" dispersion, which is not quite the same as saying "wide." It's not nearly as wide as, say, Definition. It's wide enough. You still can get a focused, toneful, room-minimizing sound in a single listening position if that's what you really want to set up for, which I understand. Many do not want that and won't feel victimized by a beamy speaker.

>>Druid FRD which measures ragged (and I only between above upper bass but below HF where Greiwe loading and essence tweeter should not be issue).<<

I went roundabout with Sean and Adam on this once. They objected to juxtaposing the terms "Griewe" and "loading." It was reminiscent of trying to get a succinct explanation of B3 in their cables. Lacking a more precise nomenclature, we used the combined term "Griewe Model" for the rest of the conversation. Well, it turns out the Griewe scheme has influence on the behavior and sound of the FRD right through its range. Druid really didn't have much Griewe model in it, but just enough to be beneficiary of an idea. Essence and Soul are full Griewe model speakers, Soul being a further refinement over Essence, which you can hear in the nearly same bass performce of Essence in a smaller cabinet, and an audibly smoother more open midrange than Druid or Essence.

Phil
Zanon,

Gotta agree with Phil here. There appears to be some misunderstanding as his posts have been crystal clear in terms of their language and helpful in clarifying the sound of the Superfly.

Mike
Mike -- I can go through Phil's posts and pull out contradictory quotes. I have no interest in doing so, and Phil will probably squeal that I am taking him out of context. Worse, I will have to actually read them again and seeing "just plop them down" repeated along with long shopping list of components is of no interest to me. My preference is to talk about sound, not gear.
Phil: Despite my jibes at you and our disagreements, I really do appreciate the factual data you share about Souls. And yes, distinctions like wide vs widER dispersement is exactly area I am curious about in new FRD.

I also very much appreciate the knowledge you get from Zu folks, who I like very much.

I do not feel Druid is "beamy" in negative auditory sense, it just has very directional HF (thank Gods!) And my room isolation strategy is not driven by my preference for that sort of sound, it is just the strategy I need to take to get best sound for me given limitations of my room and my life.
>>"just plop them down" <<

That wasn't advice, it was merely a statement of what the non-audiophile music listener can do and still be happy.

I was talking about sound, not gear. Any gear suggestions are strictly for purposes of reaching goals in sound.

Phil